Assisted dying/assisted suicide
The RCPsych continues to undertake work on assisted dying/assisted suicide.
In particular, we are looking at the possible impacts of the passing of legislation in the UK and Crown Dependencies on those with mental illness, intellectual disabilities and neurodevelopmental conditions; implications for the psychiatric profession should proposals be implemented; and the reliability of consent procedures.
To date, we have made representations to inform the development of proposals in England, Wales, Scotland, and Jersey. There are a range of views among our members, which reflects the complexity and sensitivity of the issue – as the voice of psychiatry, we have shared our expert clinical insight so that representatives can make informed decisions on different proposals across jurisdictions.
The views we have expressed in our submissions are based on extensive consideration by our cross-College working group on this complex subject, surveys of membership, a debate held for membership in London, engagement with the membership on proposals in Scotland, England, Wales, and Jersey, submissions by other experts and organisations, and discussions with colleagues in other jurisdictions.
The College has met with MPs, peers, MSPs and MSs who hold a wide range of opinions on the topic, including the sponsors of the Bill currently before the House of Commons in Westminster for England and Wales and the Bill before Holyrood for Scotland respectively, as well as a number of parliamentarians who are against proposals. We will continue to work with parliamentarians and policymakers on the issue.
Most recently, we have briefed all MPs in Westminster (PDF) regarding the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill for England and Wales ahead of the Report Stage debate and Third Reading vote on the Bill. In doing so, we have been clear that the RCPsych cannot support the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill for England and Wales in its current form.
The Welsh Government recently published a Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Bill before Westminster, and Senedd Committees have been given a reporting deadline of 27 June 2025. RCPsych Wales will be submitting evidence at the appropriate opportunity.
The RCPsych in Scotland also recently sent a briefing to MSPs in Holyrood (PDF) ahead of the debate and vote on the Bill before the Scottish Parliament. We welcomed a number of provisions set out in the Bill and the Scottish Government's Stage 1 Report; identified items of concern, omission, and those of primary focus for psychiatry; and outlined next steps and resourcing considerations.
There are two Private Members’ Bills before Parliament on assisted dying/assisted suicide:
- Kim Leadbeater MP’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in the House of Commons
- Lord Falconer’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill [HL] in the House of Lords
Lord Falconer’s Bill appears to have been paused while Kim Leadbeater’s Bill progresses.
Although justice is reserved to Westminster, both Bills have implications for the health service in Wales, a devolved policy area. Although decisions on legislative consent are not legally binding, there are questions as to the constitutional propriety of disregarding the stated view of the Senedd.
Our work to date
In June 2025, the Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Psychiatrists sent a joint statement to all MPs (PDF) on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to inform all remaining stages in the House of Commons. This joint statement raised shared concerns and outlined the Bill’s current deficiencies.
In May 2025, the RCPsych provided a briefing for MPs (PDF) and issued a press release ahead of the Report Stage debate and Third Reading vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill for England and Wales. We made it clear that we cannot support the Bill in its current form. We also made the following statements regarding the Bill:
- Terminal illness is a risk factor for suicide.
- There should be a requirement for a holistic assessment of unmet need.
- Assisted dying/assisted suicide is not a treatment.
- The Mental Capacity Act does not provide a framework for assessing decisions about ending one’s own life.
- It is not clear what a psychiatrist’s role on a panel would be.
- There are not enough psychiatrists to do what the Bill requires.
- Professionals must be able to conscientiously object to involvement in any part of the process.
- Robust professional standards and oversight would need to be in place.
- Physical effects of a mental disorder should not make a person eligible for assisted dying/assisted suicide.
In January 2025, we submitted oral evidence and written evidence (PDF) to the Public Bill Committee for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, primarily focusing on the reliability of consent procedures within the Bill as drafted.
We sent a briefing to MPs (PDF) ahead of the first vote on Kim Leadbeater MP’s Bill. The Bill passed second reading on 29 November 2024. We also issued a media briefing and public comment following this vote.
We briefed Senedd Members (PDF) ahead of a Member Debate on assisted dying on 23 October. We will continue to engage with MSs as the legislative consent process is engaged.
In January 2023, we submitted written evidence (PDF) to the UK Parliament’s Health and Social Care Committee inquiry on the matter.
Liam McArthur MSP (Liberal Democrats) introduced his Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill in March 2024.
Our work to date
In May 2025, the RCPsych in Scotland provided MSPs with a briefing (PDF) ahead of the Stage 1 vote in Holyrood on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. In this briefing, we welcomed a number of provisions in the Bill and the Scottish Government's Stage 1 Report that have been taken forward from our previous recommendations, including regarding the role and central register for psychiatry it proposes. We also pointed to items of concern and omission, such as the potential for extension of eligibility and associated questions for people with anorexia nervosa and dementia.
We previously submitted written evidence on this Bill (PDF) to the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Sport and Social Care Committee.
We have also given oral evidence to the Committee on mental health considerations, safeguards against coercion, assessing capacity, the influence of physical illness on mental health, the interaction between the Bill and existing capacity/mental health legislation and access to psychological support.
This matter has not been formally discussed within the Northern Ireland legislative bodies as of December 2024.
The RCPsych in Northern Ireland has a local assisted dying/assisted suicide group which contributes to the College’s UK-wide work on this issue.
The States Assembly voted in favour of proposals for terminally ill people. The Minister for Health and Social Services in Jersey will now bring a draft law to the States Assembly in 2025.
Our work to date
The RCPsych responded directly (PDF) to the Government of Jersey’s public consultation on assisted dying/assisted suicide.
The College also sent a letter to the Chief Minister and Health Minister in Jersey ahead of a States Assembly debate, reiterating some points expressed in our 2023 consultation submission to the Jersey Government on assisted dying. The Health Minister has agreed to share a draft law with the RCPsych for review and comment, particularly on non-participation agreements.
The House of Keys has voted in favour of progressing the Assisted Dying Bill, which could make assisted dying available from 2027 to residents who are ‘mentally competent’ and have less than 12 months to live.
In March 2025, the Bill’s passage through the House of Key and Legislative council was completed.
